We advance research about community and economic development in Wisconsin and provide applied research, education, and assistance to individuals, local governments, and community organizations.
October 2017 — Economists have long known that entrepreneurship in the form of business start-ups is vital to a vibrant and strong economy (Conroy and Deller, 2015). Wisconsin, however, tends to compare unfavorably to other states in terms of entrepreneurship. The Kauffman Foundation has been monitoring entrepreneurial activity for a number of years and their […]
August 2017 — Electronic component manufacturer Foxconn Technology Group (Foxconn) recently announced its intention to build a $10 billion manufacturing campus. As the facility initially expects to employ 3,000 workers, with the potential to expand up to 13,000 employees, its magnitude generates both intense excitement and uncertainty. For instance, a number of questions surround the […]
July 2017 — Between the end of WWII and the 1970s, a growing middle class narrowed the income gap. But over the past 30 years, economists have become increasingly aware of and concerned about rising income inequality. The causes and consequences of this trend have been the focus of countless academic studies, but rising income […]
August 2010 — Incorporating good economic data and research into your “Buy Local” campaign can have multiple benefits. This article outlines how economic data can strengthen the development, implementation, and evaluation of a buy local campaign. It will focus on economic data related to demographics, “what-if” economic impact scenarios, and evaluation data. The first step […]
